Tutorials
Tutorials are small groups of two to five students working closely with an instructor on a common topic, project, or skill. Students in the group follow a common syllabus; all participants complete the same readings, write papers on similar topics, etc. Faculty members (both full-time and part-time) are limited to supervising no more than one tutorial per term (Fall, Spring, or Summer). Students in the same tutorial must register for the same number of credits. Tutorials may range from 2 to 4 credits. Like classroom courses, tutorials also have a minimum number of contact hours (for more details, see Meeting Hours below). In general, long distance tutorials (where at least one of the students or the instructor is not able to meet regularly with the group) are not permitted.
Designing a Tutorial
Students may arrange tutorials with their adviser, another NYU faculty member, or in some cases, and with special approval, professor or professional outside of the University. If a student plans to work with a professor or professional outside of the University, the student must submit the instructor's curriculum vitae or résumé with the Tutorial Proposal form. In most cases, students are already acquainted with the instructor who will be supervising the study. Tutorials are usually student-generated projects, and the students in the group should work together, along with the instructor, to write the proposal, which consists of four components: 1) a 250-word description of the tutorial's theme; 2) reading list; 3) the work to be evaluated by the instructor; and 4) a syllabus (the schedule of meetings along with topics, readings, and assignments to be covered during each session). Students can revise and adopt their syllabus with their instructor once the semester begins. Each student in the tutorial must complete a separate Tutorial Proposal form and attach a description of the group’s tutorial proposal.
Generally, the number of credits for the tutorial is determined by the work to be completed and should be comparable to that of a Gallatin classroom course. For example, the workload for a 4-credit tutorial might include a reading list of 6 to 10 books (depending on their length and complexity) and approximately 20 to 30 pages of writing over the course of the semester. It is up to the students and instructor to determine the specific format of the work to be evaluated by the instructor. They may choose several short papers, or a longer paper written in sections as the work progresses. For some tutorials, other kinds of work may be appropriate, e.g., video productions, paintings, music compositions, etc. The work for the tutorial should be submitted according to the schedule of due dates agreed on at the outset, and as with a classroom course, late work may be penalized.
The Role of the Instructor
The instructor should meet regularly with students to discuss readings and provide feedback on writing assignments or other projects (for more details, see Meeting Hours below). The instructor will also be asked to notify the Office of Advising by the middle of the term if he or she has any concerns about any student's progress and performance. At the end of the term, anecdotal grade reports are e-mailed to the instructor requesting a brief description and final evaluation of each student’s work to accompany the assignment of a letter grade.
Meeting Hours
While the days and times of the students' meetings with the instructor are “to be arranged,” instructors and students meet for a minimum number of hours per semester: for a 4-credit tutorial, the minimum number of contact hours is fourteen (14). In arranging contact hours, instructors and students may choose to meet every week for one hour, every other week for two hours, or less frequently, if appropriate, as long as they meet for a minimum of fourteen (14) hours over the course of the semester. Contact hours for a tutorial that is less than 4 credits should be prorated accordingly (e.g., a 2-credit tutorial should meet for a minimum of 7 hours). As in any other course, the students should come prepared for these meetings by completing readings and written work on time.
Registration Procedures
Approval Process
Enrollment in a tutorial requires the approval of the Gallatin School. Students should bring the completed Tutorial Proposal form to Gallatin's Office of Student Services where it will be reviewed by the Dean's Office and the curriculum committee. Upon approval, the Office of Student Services will give the student the 4-digit access code required for registration. The student may then register for the tutorial on Albert, or in person if Albert is not available. Please note: the student is responsible for the registration process.
Deadline for Submitting the Proposal
Tutorial proposals must be submitted according to the following schedule of deadlines:
Fall semester: May 1
Spring semester: December 1
Summer sessions: April 1 (for tutorials during either of the six-week sessions)
For further information about tutorials, please contact Kathe Ann Joseph: (212) 992-9822 or e-mail: katheann.joseph@nyu.edu
